Archive for Katie Paradis
Which pain medication is right for your child? What a pediatrician wants parents to know
There’s no shortage of safe and effective pain medications for children. Acetaminophen (commonly known as Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) are the most common over-the-counter options, but how do you know which one is best to use when? “Each pain medication has its own benefits and risks,” says Dr. Susan Harp, a ... Read More about Which pain medication is right for your child? What a pediatrician wants parents to know
Unveiling the hidden impact of moyamoya disease: Brain injury without symptoms
Moyamoya disease — a rare, progressive condition that narrows the brain’s blood vessels — leads to an increased risk of stroke and other neurological conditions. Doctors treating children with moyamoya often face difficult decisions about treatment, notably deciding whether to perform revascularization, a surgery to bypass the narrowed blood vessels and restore blood flow. A ... Read More about Unveiling the hidden impact of moyamoya disease: Brain injury without symptoms
Could the falcine sinus hold the key to vein of Galen outcomes?
A Boston Children’s Hospital study uncovers how fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be a game-changer in predicting outcomes for infants born with vein of Galen malformations (VOGMs). The study, just published in Stroke, focused on the width of the falcine sinus (FS) — the fetal structure that channels blood from the malformation back to ... Read More about Could the falcine sinus hold the key to vein of Galen outcomes?
For Fiadh: Pushing the envelope to treat drug-resistant epilepsy
Fiadh is a bubbly and empathetic 4-year-old. And if you ask her parents, Elaine and Dario, she’s also mischievous and wild. “She knows when she shouldn’t be doing something,” Elaine says. “Then she gives you a look, giggles, and does it anyway.” Fiadh’s tenacity likely comes from her mother, which is a good thing. After ... Read More about For Fiadh: Pushing the envelope to treat drug-resistant epilepsy
Breaking new ground in cerebral cavernous malformation research
Children with cavernous malformations face unique treatment challenges due to factors such as the malformation’s location, size, risk of bleeding, and the complexities of pediatric tissue development. To address these issues effectively, advanced diagnostics and precise interventions are essential. This is why Ed Smith, MD, and the team at the Cerebrovascular Surgery and Interventions Center ... Read More about Breaking new ground in cerebral cavernous malformation research
Full-family support sees Hannah and her parents through AVM surgery
Nine-year-old Hannah from Vermont is passionate about skiing; not much keeps her off the slopes. In fact, not much slows her down or dampens her energy, period. So, when she experienced a ruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM) last spring, she wasn’t sidelined long. Her parents, Katie and Rich, credit Hannah’s remarkable recovery to her vivacious spirit ... Read More about Full-family support sees Hannah and her parents through AVM surgery
The power of a second opinion for Merritt’s spina bifida care
In March 2020 — at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown — Jenna, Brian, and their 2-year-old daughter Merritt were practically the only passengers on their flight from Charlotte to Boston. Waiting for them in Massachusetts were Dr. Benjamin Warf, Dr. Carlos Estrada, and other experts from the Spina Bifida and Spinal Cord Conditions Center ... Read More about The power of a second opinion for Merritt’s spina bifida care
For Ana Sofia: How one mom found prenatal care for fetal pleural effusion
Alexandra is the first to admit she asks a lot of questions and needs to know details. “I’m curious about everything, and I want to know everything,” she says. “I do my research. I’m a pretty resourceful person.” It’s something she says can be off-putting to some people, but it’s also what saved her daughter’s ... Read More about For Ana Sofia: How one mom found prenatal care for fetal pleural effusion
A seat at the table: One family’s story of finding advanced care for hydrocephalus
To her parents, everything about 6-month-old Stella is a miracle. Rose and Vlad were ecstatic to learn they were expecting a baby after Rose was diagnosed with uterine fibroids. When Stella arrived months early, they were astounded by her ability to keep growing stronger. And when her doctors discovered a buildup of cerebral spinal fluid ... Read More about A seat at the table: One family’s story of finding advanced care for hydrocephalus
Helping Jasmine manage Sturge-Weber syndrome before symptoms start
Sturge-Weber syndrome is a rare neurovascular disorder that increases the risk of seizures in infants due to abnormal blood vessel development in the brain. Almost 90 percent of children with Sturge-Weber experience their first seizure before age 2, which makes proactive, seizure-preventive care important in minimizing the risk of long-term brain injury. Finding such care, ... Read More about Helping Jasmine manage Sturge-Weber syndrome before symptoms start